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Royal Rip Off Symphony Christmas 8 night

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3kidsncats

3kidsncats

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, Oxo said:

Sorry to disagree with you about the last 20 months. People started to cruise again in July, August , Sept, Oct, Nov and Dec 2021 without any of those conditions the OP mentioned.

We cruised on Celebrity  Edge in Sept. Then again on a B2B on NCL Joy in Nov got off Dec 4. 

Those 3 cruises were excellent! No masks, no social distancing. Only reduced guests of 900 and 1,600.

Other than that it was very normal in the way of entertainment,  services, Food, etc.

 

How many people are at talking about the lack of any entertainment?

Yes, prices go up during the holidays,  but $120 for any Specialty Restaurant is totally gouging.

 

Enjoy your cruise! Stay Safe and Happy New Year! 

Got off NCL Bliss on 12/19 — Six was cancelled entirely (many very unhappy people regarding the cancellation).  True, we were not required to mask, but the passengers starting on the 19th were required to.  And I personally know several people who tested positive in the week following the cruise.  While onboard, we started hearing about how covid numbers were skyrocketing.  During June, July, August, etc there was a very different capacity on the ships, newly vaccinated (ie vaccines at full effectiveness) passengers and a variant no where near (apparently) the contagiousness of Omicron.  For anyone paying attention (which I do nowadays when planning travel) all of the current issues should be at least passing through ones mind as a possibility for their trip

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LouChamp

LouChamp

Posted
Posted
25 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

It continues to amaze me that people continue to go on cruises during a pandemic and then complain when the cruise is far different from what they expected. This may sound harsh, but the OP reinforces my believe that too many  people in this country get dumber every year. 

totally agree

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Tolkmit

Tolkmit

Posted
Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, danielwje1 said:

With the upmost respect to you, we have all had a rather terrible holiday and Christmas. There’s been numerous posts from independent people including myself about the experiences onboard. 
 

I think it’s hard if you’re at home to visualise the experience onboard. I also think it’s important people’s experiences are shared so people can make an informed decision if they want to step on these ships or not. 

 

I agree, it's important people are sharing what is happening on board. It let's others make as informed of a decision as possible.

The problem is all of the people who are being completely unreasonable, trashing Royal, coming up with conspiracy theories... it's kind of ridiculous. Everything that is happening was a distinct and known possibility when you booked. Much like a hurricane causing a ship to miss ports in pre-pandemic times, it's unlikely to happen to any one specific cruise, but is highly likely to happen to at least a few cruises each year. You guys just got super unlucky. But being mad at Royal over the bad luck everyone knew would happen on someone's cruise... it doesn't make sense to me. You rolled the dice with a (given how well stuff had been since the restart) 99% chance to win... and lost. It sucks... but you still knew you were rolling the dice when you decided to invest in taking a cruise during a pandemic. (You in a general sense to people on board, not meaning you personally in this post.)

 

Of course, I also think it's ridiculous everyone criticizing people on board for what matters to them on a cruise. If the shows happen to be super important to someone, fair enough. We all have our own preferences. I don't think that justifies looking for someone to blame rather than accepting you got unlucky, as some have been doing... but explaining the cruise has been really disappointing because you care about the shows a lot, is informative to other people with a cruise booked next week who also have those same preferences. People getting attacked for explaining their preferences... that doesn't make sense to me either.

Edited by Tolkmit
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Merion_Mom

Merion_Mom

Posted
Posted
45 minutes ago, a2zcruise said:

 

There was no reason not to have ice carving, contests, DJ, and a non-working jumbotron screen the entire cruise

No parades or themes in Promenade

 

 

There haven't been ice carvings on RC in at least five years.

 

There have been no parades since the restart of cruising.

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ONECRUISER

ONECRUISER

Posted
Posted (edited)
4 hours ago, MrMarc said:

No I haven't.  How many points do you have to get to have unrealistic expectations and make up conspiracy theories?  Yes the are always hiring and training people, but they cannot replace an entire show, especially the diving shows, instantly.  A person or 2 and given practice time together, possibly.  The entire show, no way.  I have heard COVID in other threads and I believe on the news.  If 1 performer gets COVID, they all have to quarantine because they are always in close contact.   The same thing would probably be true for the techs and safety people.  And it is also quite possible that they decided as a group that they were not comfortable on the ship.   I have taken the tour and understand how shows like that work even without taking the tour.  You don't just throw a group together and start a show.  There is a lot more to it than that.  But you've been on 40 cruises, so if you say it, it must be true.  Do you realize that the people on their 1st cruise had the same experiences you did?

Just few years ago they use have Aerial Shows on Serenade and Brilliance, they kept getting canceled as Royal was short Riggers. On my Sailings these specialists would get pulled and sent to Oasis Class for Water Shows. W/O Riggers the show cant go on. I've had Dozens Shows Canceled over the years, all takes is one Main Singer, a Dancer/Swimmer or 2, a Rigger and all this PreCovid. Now with Record CV numbers doesnt take much when as we see most CV Cases onboard are Crew. As you said cant forget 1 Crew case all other Performers/Crew are exposed have to Quarantine and I'm sure these outnumber the Cases

Edited by ONECRUISER
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Iamcruzin

Iamcruzin

Posted
Posted
4 hours ago, fredmdcruisers said:

My point: they didn't blame covid so where did you read that? Have you cruised 40 times with Royal? They are constantly hiring new singers and dancers and training them in FL. Take the behind the scenes tour on your next cruise. Watch, listen and learn.

You cruised 40 times with Royal and you didn't know that they hike up the price of the specialty restaurants during the holiday week.  FYI they do it for Thanksgiving as well. They know people will book for special occasions at any price. Supply and demand the same reason it's more expensive to book the cruise for those weeks.

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ReneeFLL "Live from...." Rare

ReneeFLL

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, Starry Eyes said:

If you successfully do that, I wonder if you and others in your party will be placed on a company “no cruise” list.

I was thinking the same thing, but they might not want to come back anyway. 🤷🏼‍♀️

 

3 hours ago, zekekelso said:


I understand the policy. But when it’s not just one or two things, but a whole flock of problems, a little compensation seems appropriate IMO, even though it’s obviously not required. 

I think this would go a long way to having a pissed customer or having one who would be willing to come back when things settle down.

 

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ONECRUISER

ONECRUISER

Posted
Posted (edited)
12 minutes ago, Iamcruzin said:

It may come back sooner than you think. Clay pigeons can't catch covid and they can work 24/7.

True. 30+ years ago would see Dozens Passengers bring onboard their Golf Bags and play on the Island Stops. Could also hit Golf Balls off side of the Ship. Maybe that will return, love try and hit them off my Balcony. One heck of a water hazard

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ONECRUISER

ONECRUISER

Posted
Posted
9 minutes ago, ReneeFLL said:

I was thinking the same thing, but they might not want to come back anyway. 🤷🏼‍♀️

 

I think this would go a long way to having a pissed customer or having one who would be willing to come back when things settle down.

 

Or they'll only get some FCC expiring before they can use it and be even more PO'd. Got so much FCC myself next 5 Booked Cruises are paid in Full. 

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bonsai3s

bonsai3s

Posted
Posted
9 minutes ago, ONECRUISER said:

True. 30+ years ago would see Dozens Passengers bring onboard their Golf Bags and play on the Island Stops. Could also hit Golf Balls off side of the Ship. Maybe that will return, love try and hit them off my Balcony. One heck of a water hazard

My most precious photo...I had a cable rigged around my waist...while hitting golf balls off the top/back deck platform and out into the ocean.

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soremekun

soremekun

Posted
Posted
5 hours ago, Tolkmit said:

 

The news stories prior to your cruise starting, the other threads about Symphony both this cruise and last, and the performers themselves on instagram. Believe most of the infected crew are being moved to Vision of the Seas; though I'm sure some those near their contract ending are just quarantining on land then being sent home.

Wow!!!!!  I am on Anthem.  On Monday, the captain said we will arrive at CocoCay at 2am Tuesday morning to meet with Vision of the Seas for a crew transfer.  Passengers would be able to get off the ship starting at 8.

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PhillyFan33579

PhillyFan33579

Posted
Posted
4 hours ago, ONECRUISER said:

I'm still waiting for Royal bring back Skeet Shooting 😁


Don’t get your hopes up. I got in trouble a few cruises ago for hitting golf balls off the ship into the water. Not sure when they changed that policy, but another change RCI has implemented to ruin my cruise experience. 

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zoepipes

zoepipes

Posted
Posted
9 hours ago, danielwje1 said:

I’m planning to do a chargeback on my credit card for services not delivered as described for a few hundred dollars. I suggest you consider the same 

 

07151822-C4C9-4F9B-B185-EA1204768210.jpeg

You have 60 days from when the disputed charge appears in your monthly statement to dispute it.  And then you pick and choose how much you're going to dispute?  It's a live and learn on this one.

 

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vacationlover_mn Great Review Rare

vacationlover_mn

Posted
Posted

I am glad my cruise is in Feb.  If it would have been late Dec/early Jan, I would have cancelled.  When I first read what was going on with symphony/odyssey, I was like “oh no, it sounds awful, we should not make final payment, and cancel!!!”.  Then, I talked to TA, and she said- final payment isn’t due for over a week- how about you think on it.  So, DH and I did…. And, I realized I am 100% cool with going, even if most time is spent on my balcony in nice weather, reading my book and watching the ocean 🙂. DH is still a bit wary…. Hopefully he gets more comfortable with it.

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Oxo

Oxo

Posted
Posted

Seriously, why don't we all accept someone else's opinion if it is describing how they feel about their experience?
Is this forum becoming divided like the political parties of today?
It is easy to find fault with things you don't agree with. 
People make suggestions and ask for opinions. Instead of trying to provide value added,  people immediately disagree with the suggestion. 
Then you have those that  try to control the boards. 
Why not make this more positive and try to understand we are all here to try to help each other with answers rather than criticism.
Remember, we are all interested in cruising, beating C19 and may meet on a future cruise.
Stay safe and happy cruising!
 

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